Product description

A vivid account of the life and times of the medieval knight, an examination of the code of chivalry, and a detailed history of the crusades. This book examines both the life and position of the medieval knight, from courtly page to war hero, including the training, tournaments, obligations, honours and exploits of these 'men of iron'. It describes how the order of the knight began, his rigorous apprenticeship, the world of his castle, and his pursuit of the noble arts of hawking, jousting, hunting and music. It also discusses the code of chivalry and debates how knights attempted to live up to its ideals, and how legend, romance, art and literature have been inspired by their history and mythology. This violent, turbulent world with its epic battles, romantic ideals and the entertainment extravaganza of the tournament is brought to life in this expertly researched and beautifully illustrated volume, containing over 850 fine art images.

Author information

Charles Phillips is the author of The Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Aztec & Maya, The Complete Illustrated Guide to Kings and Queens of Britain and Ireland and The Complete Illustrated Guide to Castles, Palaces and Stately Houses of Britain and Ireland (all Lorenz Books). He contributed to Cassell's Dictionary of Modern Britain and Ancient Civilizations. He graduated from Oxford University and holds an MA from the University of Westminster, London. Dr Craig Taylor is a lecturer in Medieval History, and a Fellow of both the Societe de l'Histoire de France and the Royal Historical Society. His specialization is political thought and public discourse in late medieval France and England, chivalry and the Hundred Years War.